18-month-old Lucas Warren is breaking barriers as the first Gerber baby in history to have Down syndrome. As the new face of the company, he just became the world’s youngest advocate for Down syndrome. Congratulations to Lucas and the Gerber Products Company! View our official press release here.

Press release extract:

“Lucas’ selection as this year’s Gerber Baby amplifies the beauty and importance of people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disorders from genetic origins. Gerber is helping demonstrate that these individuals contribute to society in meaningful ways; that they bring life to a family, radiate joy and goodness, and touch people in a profound way”.

I love to see children with Down syndrome in the news, discussed on talk shows, and their stories shared online. It’s such an exciting opportunity to explain just how much our brothers and sisters with Down syndrome mean to us – and how blessed we are to have them as friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. As Lucas’ dad said:

“We’re hoping this will impact everyone – that it will shed a little bit of light on the special needs community and help more individuals with special needs be accepted and not limited… They have the potential to change the world, just like everybody else.”

The Jerome Lejeune Foundation has served thousands of people with Down syndrome over the past fifty years providing holistic care – not just medical care – holistic care.